Piano tuning-pin.



'WITNESSES H. A. HILLGOAT. PIANO TUNING PIN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28. 1913.

1,094,653. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

3 7 Z jZJ7 7 J5 2" f.. z- I l 4, l l j Z 6 I 6 H 6 l, i 6 515 i 5 ,75 6 3 3 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY ADOLPHUS HILLCOAT, 0F AMHERST, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA.

PIANO TUNING-PIN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY A. HinncoAr, a subject of the King of England, residing at Amherst, Province of Nova Scotia, Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Piano Tuning-Pins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in piano tuning pins, and is more particularly directed to the securing of the pins for holding and tensioning the strings, such pins being ordinarily known as tuning pins.

The object of the present invention is to secure the tuning pins by friction against the full iron plate of the piano, and thereby doing away with the prevailing plan of employing a wooden pin block.

In accordance with the present invention each tuning pin traverses the iron plate and at one end is shaped for the application of the tuners hammer, while at the other end the tuning pin is formed into a laterally expanded head having that face remote from the pin rounded, or convex. Engaging the convex heads of the pins are friction blocks each capable of holding a plurality of pins, usually two, and each block is held by a single screw having a head on the outer or string side of the iron plate and shaped like the corresponding ends of the pins to enter the socket wrench on the tuners hammer, thus permitting the attainment of any desired friction, the tuning of the strings and, the locking of the tuning pins against accidental loosening all by the use of a single tuners instrument and obviating the necessity of the tuner carrying special instruments for the operation of the invention.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration, of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, with the further understanding that while the drawings show a practical embodiment of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure fromthe salient features of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a section through a portion of the iron plate show- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 28, 1913.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

Serial No. 751,312.

ing the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the friction blocks as viewed from the rear face. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one of the friction blocks as viewed from the front face or that designed to engage the tunlng pins.

In the drawings there is shown a plate 1 which may be taken as indicative of the full iron plate of the piano, and traversing this plate are the shanks of tuning pins 2, each having one end 3 squared and tapered as is customary, and the other end formed into a head 4, which head is laterally expanded. and on the face remote from the shank of the pin is rounded or convex. Each pin is provided with the usual perforation 5 for the attachment of the corresponding end of a piano string or wire 6. There are also provided blocks 7 which may be made somewhat longer than wide and formed at a cen tral portion with a boss 8 and longitudinally disposed strengthening webs 9. The block at an intermediate point is provided with a threaded passage 10 extending centrally through the boss 8 and on each side of this passage that face 11 of the block remote from the boss 8 is formed with concavities 12 constituting seats or pockets shaped to receive the rounded or convex heads 1 of respective pins 2, although these pockets may be of suitable size to permit the introduction of a strip or washer 13 of some suitable material, such as vulcanized fiber. However, the washer or strip 13 may be omitted under some circumstances.

The plate 1 besides being traversed by the pins 2 is also traversed at suitable points by other pins 1 1 each having one end 15 squared into conformity with the ends 3 of the pins 2 and also at the base of the squared portion provided with a flange or shoulder 16 designed to engage against the front face of the plate 1 when the pin 14- is in traversing relation to the plate. The other end of the pin 14 is threaded, as indicated at 17 to engage the threaded passage 10 of a re spective block 7.

Without limiting the invention to any particular number of pins 2 to a block 7, it may be stated that each block may be of a size to engage two pins 2 at a time, and in this case the pin 14 traverses the block between two pins 2.

Those faces of the heads 1 of the pins 2 which'are presented toward the rear face of issthe plate 1. are relatively broad and flat so as to provide good frictional engagement with the plate 1.

Suppose, now, that it is desired to tune the piano, a pin 1%, or as it may be termed, a clamp screw let, is loosened sufficiently to relieve the pins 2 controlled thereby to the desired extent The pins 2 are then turned in appropriate directions and to appropriate extents to strain the strings to such amounts as shall place them in the desired tuned condition. Now, the pin or clamp screw 14-. is tightened and by the engagement of the flange 16 with the front face of the plate 1 the corresponding block 7 is caused to bear with suitable force upon the rounded faces of the heads 4:, or in the case of the presence of the strip or washer 13, the pressure is exerted through this washer upon the heads -Il- The employment of the single clamping screw in conjunction with the plate engaging the heads of two spaced pins, and these heads being rounded, permits the block 7 to conform to the rounded heads of the pins to engage them with suitable frictional pressure and force them into suitable frictional engagement with the plate 1, so that these pins are held with particularly great force against the iron plate.

The tuner has but to manipulate a single clamping pin or screw which may be done with the same hammer or tool employed in turning the pins 2, in order to tune two piano strings, thus not only simplifying the tuners outfit, but simplifying the necessary operations which include the final clamping of the pins against the strains to which they sometimes yield.

The frictionally held tuning pins are not dependent at all for the maintenance of their position upon the frictional engagement of the pins with a wooden strip traversed thereby, nor do they depend upon friction caused by screws or other like devices necessitating the use of a screw driver for their adjustment, and oftentimes only accessible from the rear of the piano.

In the present invention the amount of friction to which the tuning pins are sul jectted is readily adjustable at any time from the same face of the iron plate from which the tuning pins project. It is quite easy for the tuner to adjust the friction of the pins 2 to make the tuning less laborious than is the case where the frictional holding of the tuning pins must be great enough to maintain them for an indefinite period. With the present invention the tuning may be completed and then the pins be clamped very tightly against accidental turning, thus pre venting the instrument from becoming out of tune.

What is claimed is:

l A stringed musical instrument having a tuning pin, and a support therefor through which the tuning pin extends, and means for frictionally binding said pin in adjusted positions, said friction binding means being in part located on one side of the support and extending through and accessible for operation from the same side of the support as is the tuning pin, and said accessible portion of the binding means being shaped for operation by the same manipulating tool as the tuning pin.

2. A piano having a frame, a tuning pin rotatably mounted and extending through the frame and having at one end a friction head and the other end shaped for the application of a manipulating t ol, a clamping block engaging the friction head, and a clamp screw extending through the frame and into the friction block, said clamp screw having the end remote from the block pre sented on the same side of the frame as the manipulating end of the tuning pin, and similarly shaped for the application of the same manipulating tool as that employed for the tuning pin.

A piano having a metal frame, a plurality of tuning pins traversing the frame and each having one end shaped for the application of a manipulating tool and the other end formed into a laterally expanded head with a convex face remote from the body of the pin and a plane face toward the body of the pin, a block having concavities therein adapted to engage a plurality of the convex heads of the pin, and a single clamping screw for the block extending through the piano frame with one end threaded into the block and the other end formed with a flange or shoulder for engaging the same face of the frame from which the manipulating ends of the tuning pins project, and said clamp pin or screw having that end corresponding to the manipulating ends of the tuning pins similarly shaped for the application of the same manipulating tool employed for turning the tuning pins.

4t. A piano having a metal frame, a plurality of tuning pins traversing the frame and each having one end shaped for the application of a manipulating tool and the other end formed into a laterally expanded head with a convex face remote from the body of the pin and a plane face toward the body of the pin a block having concrvities therein adapted to engage a plurality of the convex heads of the pin, and a single clamping screw for the block extending through the piano frame with one end threaded into the block and the other end formed with a flange or shoulder for engaging the same face of the frame from which the manipulating ends of the tuning pins project, and said clamp pin or screw having that end corresponding to the manipulating ends of the tuningpins similarly shaped for the application of the same manipulating tool employed for turning the tuning pins, the concavities of the block being related to the convex heads to admit the introduction of a washer of suitable friction material.

5. A piano havinga frame, tuning pins traversing the piano frame and each provided at one end with a laterally expanded head having its outer face convex, each pin having the end remote from the head tapered and squared for the application of a tuning implement, a block having spaced cavities adapted to receive the convex heads of spaced tunin pins, and a single clam-p screw for each ilock traversing the piano frame and threaded into the block and at the end remote from the threaded end formed with aflange or shoulder and squared and tapered to receive the same manipulating tool as the tuning pins.

6. A stringed musical instrument having a tuning pin with the end remote from the manipulating end provided with a head, a support for the tuning pin through which it projects, a friction clamping means for the tuning pin having a manipulating member accessible from the same side of the support as the manipulating end of the tuning pin and there shaped in conformity with the shape of said manipulating end of the tuning pin, and the clamping means being proiclecl on the side of the support remote from the manipulating portion of the clamping means with a seat for the head of the tuning pm.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY ADOLPI-IUS HILLCOAT.

Witnesses MARK CURRY, J. V. RAGSDALE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

